Cricket Victoria has put their plans on hold to rebrand the Melbourne Stars and merge them with the Renegades for the immediate future, confirming both clubs will compete as individual franchises in WBBL 12 as the federal push to privatise the Big Bash hits pause.
The decision comes after state chairs signalled only “in principle support” for a self-determination model of private investment and identified four major prerequisites that must be resolved before any sale or structural change can proceed. The move ends a brief but turbulent chapter that began when Cricket Victoria announced intentions to rebrand the Stars and sell 100 per cent of the Renegades’ licence ahead of the 2026–27 summer.
Those plans, which included trademark filings for potential Melbourne names, Rangers, Magic and Blazers, a proposed blue-and-white kit, will not be implemented for the coming season. In identical member emails, the previous evening, the Stars and Renegades acknowledged the decision: “Due to the extended timeline for a decision on BBL privatisation, we have made the decision not to go ahead with our vision of a re-branded team for the upcoming season.”
For women’s cricket, certainty around the 2026–27 campaign is welcome. The WBBL remains in a period of growth and profile amplification, a fact underscored by the ongoing ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in England and Wales, and both Melbourne sides will head into WBBL|12 with their existing identities intact. The Renegades, led by Australian skipper Sophie Molineux, arrive as a club that tasted WBBL glory for the first time in the tournament’s 10th edition in 2024; the Stars remain the only original side yet to lift the WBBL trophy, their closest run a runner-up finish in WBBL 06 (2020).
Yet practical complications remain. The eight Big Bash clubs are still operating under a contracting embargo imposed after the last BBL season, meaning neither Stars nor Renegades can sign new players until the league lifts the freeze. Coaching structures are also unclear, with Cricket Victoria and the clubs yet to confirm how staff appointments will be handled in both the men’s and women’s competitions while discussions continue.
The states’ Monday meeting flagged four conditions that must be settled before privatisation can progress: agreement on the new governance structure for the Big Bash Leagues; changes to Cricket Australia’s governance to reflect the operating model; a negotiated mechanism of the self-determination model with the Australian Cricketers’ Association; and an accord between Cricket Australia and each state on future funding and distribution arrangements. Only after those matters are resolved would the process move to market testing and valuations, with Cricket Victoria expected to lead any initial sale process.
Cricket Australia chair Mike Baird framed the pause as sensible governance: states will “go back to their boards to discuss these proposals and address any questions” so that player welfare, grassroots interests and long-term sustainability remain central. South Australian Cricket Association chair Will Rayner described talks as “constructive” and stressed the need for appropriate checks and balances to protect the sport’s sovereignty.
For supporters, the immediate message is straightforward: expect the Stars and Renegades to field separate teams this summer, with fixtures for WBBL 12, due to be released next month. For administrators, players and the players’ union, the next weeks will be critical as the sport negotiates the governance and commercial frameworks that could reshape Australia’s most high-profile domestic competitions.
As the global eyes of women’s cricket focus on the T20 World Cup, the Big Bash’s evolution will need a steadying hand. Cricket Victoria’s decision to postpone a rebrand preserves continuity for the coming season, but the longer-term debate over privatisation, governance and the game’s commercial future is far from settled.
(Quotes sourced from cricket.com.au)
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